Low-Grade Gliomas

Low grade gliomas encompass multiple histologic diagnoses of primary brain tumors, most commonly grade 2 oligodendroglioma and grade 2 astrocytoma. This chapter presents a case of a patient with a left temporal low grade glioma who presented with seizures, which are a common presenting symptom for this tumor type. Management of patients with a newly diagnosed low grade glioma typically begins with maximal safe surgical resection for surgically accessible tumors. Surgical planning may involve functional imaging such as with fMRI. Genetic and molecular markers help distinguish subtypes of low grade gliomas, and this subtyping has implications for the type and timing of adjuvant therapy.